Professor Ojars Sparitis

Foreign Member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences since 2016

Profession: philologist, art researcher. Born: 28 November 1955, Priekule, Liepāja district, Latvia

Education, qualifications: Professor, Latvian Academy of Arts, since 28.04.1998 Full Member (academician), Latvian Academy of Sciences, from 2003 Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, since 26.11.1999 Dr.art.habil. in 24.03.1998 Dr.art. in 25.11.1997 Assistant professor, Latvian Academy of Arts, since 30.04.1992 MA (arts), in 1990 Student, Department of History and Theory of Art, Latvian Academy of Arts, 1981-1987 Student, faculty of Philology, University of Latvia, 1974-1979

Work experience: President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (29.11.2012-to date) Representative of the State President at the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO from 2010 Chairperson of the Council of Experts, “Rīgas nami” Ltd. of the Riga City Council (2010-2011) Architect, “Binders” Ltd., 2007-2009 Visiting professor, University of Jyväskyla, Finland, January-July 2000 Executive director, the Blackheads House complex, 01.08.1999-11.07.2007 Head of the Department for doctoral studies, Latvian Academy of Arts, from 1998 Head of the Department for master studies, Latvian Academy of Arts, from1993 Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, December 1995-August 1996 Vice-rector, Head of the Chair of History of Art, Latvian Academy of Arts, 1993-1995 Senior lecturer, Latvian Academy of Arts, 1986-1991 Instructor for cultural monuments protection at the Central Council of the Latvian Nature and Monument Protection Society, 1981-1986 Editor at the Scientific Library of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1979-1981 Lectures abroad: University of Kiel (1994), University of Jyväskyla (2000), University of Glasgow (2008), University of Tübingen (2009, 2010), Florence Academy of Art (2010), Vilnius University (2013), National Taipei University of Technology (2015).

Qualifications: Languages: German, English, Russian (proficient); Latin, Lithuanian, Polish, Czech (reading and translation skills) Computer literacy Certificate of Personnel Management Course (30 hrs.) DAAD grant for studies and guest lecturing in the University of Kiel in 1994 and 1999 Grant of the Swedish Institute and the Swedish Royal Academy for the search of prototypes of the Blackheads House paintings as well as research at the State and military archives in Sweden, 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2006 Grant of the British Academy for art research in London, 2001, 2007 Research grants of Lübeck’s Gesellschaft zur Befoerderung Gemeinnuetziger Taetgikeit 1996, 2010 Experience in the cultural monuments research and restoration theory and practice, participation in international conferences and projects Member of the Promotion Council at the Latvian Academy of Arts and the Riga Technical University (Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning) Member of the ICOMOS Scientific Committee “Conservation Theory”

Project management: Project of restoration and reconstruction of the Blackheads House, its interiors and furnishings, as well as marketing management of the institution, 1997-2007 Head of the Art Council Expert Group for the municipality cultural institutions (Riga Art Space, cinema „Rīga“, House of Congresses, the Blackheads House) since 2010, marketing experience, 1997-2007 Experience in the restoration of Latvia’s monuments of sacral culture (churches of Priekule, Straupe, Strutele, Annenieki, Liepupe, Vijciems, St Peter’s in Riga, church of Ressurrection (Riga Great Cemetery), since 1998 Experience, consultations and practice in the issues of restoration and interior furnishings for Latvia’s manor buildings (Kukšu muiža, Ķirbižu muiža) Expert in church restoration for Latvia’s Ev. Lutheran Church Experience in architectural interiors of historical objects and cultural monuments

Publications: Monographic works: Manierisms. Riga, Zinātne, 1997, 48 p.; Rīgas Doma vitrāžas (in Latvian and English). Riga, Premo, 1997, 104 p.; Renesanses stilistiskais diapazons vizuālajās mākslās Latvijā XVI – XVII gadsimtā [Stylistic range of the Renaissance in visual arts in Latvia during 16 -17 century]. Riga, Nordik, 60 p.; Latvijas luterāņu dievnamu šodiena [Lutheran Church in Latvia today]. Riga, Nordik, 1999, 292 p; Usmas baznīca Rīgā, Latvijā, pasaulē. (Riga, Zinātne, 1999, 170 p.), Bornes baznīca. (Riga, Author’s publ., 2000, 60 p).; Vācieši Latvijā (together with L. Dribins). II daļa “Vācu garīgās un materiālās kultūras vērtības Latvijā”. (Riga, Elpa, 2000, 86-229 p.) Rīgas pieminekļi un dekoratīvā tēlniecība. (Riga, Nacionālais Medicīnas apgāds, 2001, 160 p.) Rīga – Florence. Kultūras paralēles. (Riga, Jumava, 2004. 220 p.) Rīgas arhitektūras astoņi gadsimti Eiropas kultūras spogulī. (in Latvian and English).(Riga, Nacionālais apgāds, 2005, 180 p.) Rīgas pieminekļi un dekoratīvā tēlniecība. (in Latvian and English), (R., Nacionālais apgāds, 2007, 194 p.) Gleznotājs Edgars Vinters (together with H. J. Gerbers). (R., Zvaigzne, 2009, 180 p.) Versija par Jelgavas Sv. Trīsvienības baznīcu. (Jelgava City Council, 2011, 335 p.) Edgars Vinters. ”I want to return home”. Soldier’s drawings. Riga, Zvaigzne publishers, 288 p.; Zlēkas Church - 370. Riga, Zinātne, 2015, 32 p. Esejas par Latvijas sakrālo kultūru [ Essays on sacral culture in Latvia ]. Riga, Jumava, 2015, 210 p.

About 100 articles in Latvia and abroad on the research, theory and protection of cultural heritage. About 200 articles in Latvia and abroad on issues of the history of art and theory, specializing in Latvian-European cultural relations, periodization, attribution, iconography and emblematics of Renaissance art, tourism management and preservation of cultural heritage.

Participation in more than 70 international conferences and symposiums (since 1989)

Participation in international research projects: Organization of the international conference “Hansa Yesterday - Hansa Tomorrow”, Riga, 1998 Organization of the scientific conference of the XXI International Hansa Days, Riga, 7-10 June 2001 “Dissemination of the Netherlands Culture in Europe” (Amsterdam, 1998-2002) “History of Urban development and Social Identity” (The Johns Hopkins University Press Baltimore @ London; W. Wilson Center Press, Washington. 2003) “Three Stars - Three Crowns”. History, geography, economy and culture of the Baltic Sea Countries, Stockholm-Riga, 2000- 2002 “Roads of Gothic in Europe”. Development of information catalogue in cooperation with tourist companies in Germany, 2002-2002 “Reformation in Europe”. Science research project in cooperation with the universities of Tübingen and Greifswald, 2006-2011 Member of the Curatorial Council of the annual “Backsteinbaukunst“ congresses in Wismar, since 2006 Member of the Curatorial Council of M.C.A. Boeckler Stiftung, Germany Member of the Curatorial Council of the Leipzig “Denkmal Messe”, 2009-2012 Member of the editorial board of the Tartu University journal “Baltic Journal of Art History” Member of the ICOMOS scientific commission for theory and philosophy of conservation and restoration, since 2005

Social duties: Chair of the Board of the Latvian Nature and Monument Protection Society Vice-chair of “Domus Rigensis”, Latvian-Baltic German Centre Vice-president of the Dante Alighieri Society in Latvia Member of ICOMOS Member of Latvian Society of Artists Member of the Council of Experts at the State Inspection for Heritage Protection Chair of the Riga Municipality Council for Monuments Representative of the State President at the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO

Awards: Latvia State president’s Letter of Gratitude, 1999 Royal North Star Order (Sweden), Commander's Cross, 2001 Medal of M.C.A. Boeckler-Stiftung „Mare Balticum“, Germany, 2001 Three Star Order Officer’s Cross, 2001 Prize of the LAS and JSC “Grindeks”, 2002 The Riga Prize of the LAS and the Riga Prize Foundation, 2003 The Order “Al Merito Republica Italiana”, Commander’s Cross (Italy), 2004 The Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands), Knight's Cross, 2006 The Order of Leopold II (Belgium), Officer's Cross, 2007 The Order of White Rose (Finland), Knight's Cross, 2009

The information is based on a personal file. Photo – https://www.lma.lv/akademija/musu-cilveki/ojars-sparitis

12 03 2019